Identity theft, counterfeit ring busted by U.D. cops

UPPER DARBY -- A chance arrest for the alleged use of a bogus credit card led police to a major nationwide identity theft and counterfeiting ring, officials said.

Sheik Fofanah, 29, of the 900 block of West Cobbs Creek Parkway, Yeadon, and Conde Mamady, 28, of Bladensburgh, Md., were arrested after filling up two cars with gas with alleged stolen credit cards 10 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Lukoil Station, 6901 Marshall Road.

The U.S. Secret Service was summoned after a quantity of credit cards and gift cards were seized from the vehicles, registered in New Hampshire and Maryland, and from the pockets of the two defendants.

Officers William Tully and Thomas Gardner were first to respond to the gas station for a report of an alleged stolen credit card used to purchase gas.

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"Tully observed a stack of what appeared to be credit cards in plain view in the center console of the Dodge," police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said. "Each card was flagged as stolen."

Gardner recovered several credit cards and gift cards from Mamady's wallet and five gift cards from inside the Audi.

Tully seized a large stack of gift cards from Fofanah's wallet and both were arrested and charged with credit card fraud, identity theft and related offenses.

"We called the Secret Service due to the number of credit cards," Chitwood said. "Apparently the Greater Philadelphia area has been hit hard with stolen credit cards recently and the Secret Service came right to our station."

According to Chitwood, additional information was obtained from the defendants leading Upper Darby, the Secret Service and Philadelphia police to obtain a search warrant for a Thanksgiving morning raid at a house on the 1000 block of South 57th Street, Philadelphia.

"They found a ton of credit cards and machinery to make credit cards," Chitwood said. "They took over the investigation that will now focus on the thousands of cases of identity theft nationwide. They were making cards up with other people's identity and buying gift cards. Money was being counterfeited at that location with bleaching and changing $1 bills into $50 bills. Obviously this was a major operation for counterfeiting and for the manufacture and distribution of credit cards."

Bail on the two defendants was set at $1 million pending a preliminary hearing for the township charges Dec. 3 before Magisterial District Judge Christopher Mattox.

"This is still an active investigation," Chitwood said. "The feds will be handling any additional charges."